The Unforgiven (7 page)

Flame pondered everything that had transpired in Celestial Village, struggling to come to terms with the startling revelations. The Supreme Lioness’s reaction toward Von stunned her. She’d never seen her high ruler exhibit such hostility. After everything Von suffered through, he’d still managed to break away from the evil realm. The Lioness’s harsh rejection of their bond disturbed Flame. What did her nation expect of her? She’d lived her life to serve them, trained hard, and made many sacrifices to become the warrior they needed, and it still didn’t seem like enough.

Now they expect me to simply walk away from Von as if he doesn’t matter? I can’t do it. I won’t do it. He pulled me out of the darkness when Raef died and even stopped me from making a horrid mistake. I could’ve surrendered to my grief, killed Von, and let Twilight bring Raef back as their new Satellite. We would’ve
been
together
but I doubt my sisterhood would’ve liked that arrangement either. We’d both belong to the evil side.
She sighed in frustration.

One more mission lay ahead, and Von was the only man capable of helping her. Bitterness crept back into her soul over how she’d been manipulated all these years to serve as a barrier between good and evil for eternity. A prodigy—purposely created by two people who were expendable tools—her mother and father. Anger rose toward the Supreme Lioness.
She could’ve saved my mother and possibly Cooper, too, yet didn’t seem to feel they were worth saving.
And now she’d said as much about Von, that he was
unworthy
to receive the blood-bond.

Will she try to eliminate Von once this assignment is complete? Do my feelings mean nothing to her? What of my child? I can’t hide her forever unless I walk away from the sisterhood.
At this point, Flame questioned her loyalty to a nation that could use innocent souls in the name of justice. She’d always held her breed in high esteem, but if
everyone
was a pawn, perhaps her line of thinking needed an adjustment. She’d been raised in their culture but had never questioned their methods or beliefs until now.

Energy raged in her body like never before. Everything Twilight had instilled in Von—supernatural speed, extremely heightened senses and telepathy—had begun to merge with her own innate gifts. At times the heady sense of power felt difficult to control, as if she could start a fire or summon the forces of nature with just her mind. She understood how this mix of power came to be, but wasn’t quite sure how to use it. The blood-bond, the very thing her ruler didn’t want Von to receive, was in fact the element that created this exciting phenomenon. She didn’t want to give it up.

No, I’m
not going to stop what’s happening between us.
The blood-bond ritual had become addictive and unbelievably sensual, the most powerful aphrodisiac she’d ever known. Even the sisterhood’s inventive Marabella seduction potion could never compare to the wicked-hot exchange between her and Von during their ritual.
Maybe it’s not that the Lioness thinks Von is unworthy of this rare bond…maybe she just doesn’t want me to possess the power of both worlds.
Her thoughts began to churn, making her realize that a child born of both worlds, then reunited with the energy of those very same worlds in her prime, could become a force to be reckoned with.

A warrior such as that would be free to make her own decisions and not bow to anyone.
Suddenly the mission at hand did not seem in vain. Nor did the past suffering she’d endured to win the war seem futile. Once she received her gift, she and Von could decide where they wanted to go and who, if anyone, they wanted to share their lives with.

Still, her heart ached for Raef, a sweet man used by both sides for different agendas. Raef didn’t deserve any of this. She wished there had been some way she could’ve saved him.

The sound of footsteps caught her attention. Though the footsteps were quiet, her sharpened sense of hearing picked up the soft brushes on the sand. She hadn’t heard Von’s Harley return. Rolling over, she saw a man approaching in the distance. He looked ghostly familiar. A chill raced down her arms. Shielding her eyes from the early morning sun with one hand, she watched.

As he drew closer, her anxiety rose. She discreetly reached for the daggers lying beside her. His layered sun-blond hair shone in the sun. His tanned hard body was deliciously poured into skintight white jeans and an open vest revealed firm rippling abs.
I’ve gone over the edge.
She gasped when he came into plain view. His sleeveless white denim vest was frayed at the shoulders of long, nicely toned arms.
This cannot be! I won the war. His soul should be free. Did he strike a deal just to come back?
By the time he stood before her, she was breathing erratically while clutching her Sai. He was gorgeous, even more than before with a dangerous aura around him and sexy as hell. She’d never felt this level of raw sexuality in him.

“I’m sorry to startle you, angel, I really didn’t know how else to approach. Please don’t be afraid.”

“Raef?” She staggered backward a few steps. “What have you done?”

He cocked his head to one side. “What do you mean? Didn’t the Supreme Lioness tell you?”

“T-tell me what?”

“Oh…I see.” He stared at her with the same big blue eyes she’d always loved.

“You can’t be back. The only way you could be here is if you agreed to become the next Satellite.”

“No, angel, while I was trapped in the void, your high ruler pulled me out. She needed to get me out in order to seal the gap.”

“No…that can’t be. She used Naami’s…
your
unborn child…to seal the gap.”

Raef nodded. “Yes, I needed the energy of a living soul to make the transition. I didn’t want Naami to bear my child, so I agreed to the Lioness’s offer to bring me back.”

“She summoned you?”

“You seem surprised. She did this for us, love, so we could become immortal together.” His gaze lowered to her neck and he smiled. “You accepted the necklace. Once you receive the gift awaiting you, we can be together.” He moved toward her.

“Stay back!” She raised her blades. “I went through hell after you died, but I survived somehow. No way am I falling for Twilight’s trick. I know you were slated as their next Satellite if Von failed again.”
He must be a Satellite,
she told herself.
He never had this level of superhuman allure before.

“It’s true. They were going to use me, but the Lioness got me out in time. While Twilight was busy stealing Paloma, your clever ruler snuck me out of their clutches. I am forever grateful to her.”

“Surely you don’t think I’m that stupid. You should go before Von returns.”

A pained look flooded his eyes. “Von Calder is here with you?”

“He saved me. He helped me avenge your death. We killed Cooper, then went after my ex-in-laws who are now dead. Hatch, on the other hand, slithered away.”

“I know. Your council filled me in on your victory, but they didn’t mention Von.”

“No…I guess they wouldn’t.”

“Don’t be upset, love, they are only looking out for your best interests.”

“I was just in the village and nobody told me that you were alive, not one single person, not even the Supreme Lioness. Surely, if she’d brought you back, she’d have told me.”

“Didn’t she mention a chosen mate for you?”

Flame shot him a perplexed look. “Y-yes…”

“Everyone in the village had strict orders to keep my return private until I met with you. The Lioness wanted fate to take its natural course.”

“Why are you doing this to me?” Tears misted her eyes. “Wasn’t your death enough torment? Didn’t you see what I went through? How hard I cried? Why would you come back as the Satellite and torture me again?”

“Flame, I am
not
a Satellite. I’d die before serving the evil pricks who took me away from you.” He reached for her but she backed away. “Your ruler gave me that necklace,” he continued, with a nod toward the sapphire, “and instructed me to leave it in my bedroom before she took me into her realm, where I had to go through transition.”

“You’re lying. This is too much to believe.”

“Then how was Von able to hear me?” His eyes searched hers.

She didn’t have an answer. Raef’s connection with Von had always mystified her.

“Don’t you see, angel? We
are
meant to be and the good side has given us this rare opportunity. Once we knew that Von was willing to convey my messages, I left the necklace and went with the Lioness to complete the transformation into immortality.”

“If what you say is true, then you agreed to use an innocent life to obtain immortality. How could you agree to such a thing?”

“The Lioness told me that Naami took what was not rightfully hers. She returned my child to me as it belonged to
my
soul,
not
your former queen’s.”

Flame stared in shock. “An exchange? Your unborn child’s soul for your return?”

“Yes. But the energy source belonged to me,” he stated matter-of-fact. “I thought you’d be thrilled to know that Naami will not bear my offspring. That right has been reserved for you.”

“No—no way would my ruler use a Twilight trick just to bring someone back from the dead. No, I refuse to believe that.”

“She had no choice.” His voice held steady. “Naami opened the gap. It had to be sealed before the evil realm took control of your sisterhood. I was more than willing to help the good side than allow Twilight to destroy such a beautiful nation.”

“This isn’t happening.” She began to tremble with mixed emotion. “Don’t come closer or I
will
kill you.”

A stunned expression flashed through his eyes. “At least return to the village with me and seek the truth.” He furrowed puzzled brows. “Why are you hanging out here, with Calder, in his campsite? The war is over, why aren’t you looking for Paloma?”

“We are going into Twilight’s nest tonight. Von is the only one who knows the way and apparently, my high ruler knew this all along. She sent me after him, told me to steal him, and said he’d be mine if I won. Then she treated him like scum, yet wants him to help me with this mission.” Flame didn’t try to hide her disdain. “And, after Von helps me obtain my rare gift, my esteemed Lioness expects me to sever my ties to him. He’s just another
tool
to her.”

“You sound bitter.” He looked disappointed.

“You think?” She let out a mocking laugh. “I just found out that I’ve been a puppet all my life, that my sole existence was to become some immortal, infallible guardian for the sisterhood, and that my parents were sacrificed because they fell in love.”

“It’s your destiny. You’re the elusive warrior woman, the only one capable of keeping Twilight at bay. You embraced this calling before you started hanging out with Von.”

“No, Von has nothing to do with how I feel about being misled. I’m nothing more than another tool to the Lioness. My birth was not an accident, as I was led to believe. My entire life has been carefully orchestrated by a higher realm for a cause I’m not sure about anymore.”

“You would never turn your back on those women.”

“I won’t let them down. I will protect them from the evil ones. But I will not allow them to dictate who I can or cannot love.”

“Love?” His voice faltered. “You love the Satellite?”

She turned away. “You wouldn’t understand. You weren’t here. While you were transitioning, I was going through hell on earth fighting things you’ve never seen…” She swung back around. “Or have you?”

He shook his head. “After I delivered the key and one last message to Von, I was taken into the light.” He paused with sad eyes. “I’m sorry you had to fight that battle without me, so sorry I left you alone. I heard you crying. I tried to hold on. It ripped me up inside to watch you fall apart.”

“But you’re not sorry about Naami’s miscarriage?”

“If I said yes, I’d be lying, and I’ve never lied to you.”

“This is really hard to believe, Raef. You have to admit, your story is really out there.”

“Then come with me right now to the village. You of all women know that Odyssey would never take me in if I was a Satellite or any type of enemy to your nation.”

Flame hesitated. Raef’s confidence seemed unshakable. His bold request did not sound like one made from a man with something to hide. Even so, she felt confused.

“She’s not going anywhere with you.” Von appeared out of nowhere.

Startled, Flame jumped, tripped over the fire pit, and landed on her butt. She stared up at the two men. Both offered to help her up but Von blocked Raef from touching her. He lifted her to her feet. Raef did not back off one bit when Von faced him.

“Flame deserves to know the truth,” Raef stated.

“Flame deserves a break from everyone trying to control her.” Von’s arms tensed. He clearly wanted to strike. “Leave, Jackson. Don’t start thinking that your new immortal status gives you the right to challenge me.”

“You’d let her believe a lie? Is that the only way you can win her heart?”

“You died. She chose me.”

“Let the lady decide. I’m not any more dead than you.”

Von gave a heavy sigh then turned toward her. “Babe, what do you want to do?”

Flame reached for his hand. Their eyes met. She stared into him, reaching with all her heart. “Tell me, Von. Tell me the truth…is Raef the Twilight Realm’s new Satellite? Is he working for the evil realm?”

Von searched her eyes for what felt like an eternity as she waited for his reply. She could barely take a breath.

“No, sugar, he’s not a Satellite. He’s not on their side.”

For a moment she couldn’t think. She simply stood there, dumbfounded. Her eyes shifted between both men as she grappled for reason, struggled to process the truth.

“Is this what you were holding back?” she asked Von in a quiet voice.

“Yeah. I had a strong sense of what happened after we left the village, but I couldn’t lay this on you until I was sure. I wasn’t trying to keep it from you.”

She offered him a warm smile. “I believe you.”

“Touching,” Raef muttered. “Now that you know the truth, love, why don’t you come with me and hear it from the Lioness herself.”

“I have an assignment to complete. I’ll confront her when I am ready.”

“You’ve changed,” he said, standing there looking unexpectedly hot with his new edge.

“So have you.”

Raef turned to Von. “This isn’t over, Calder. It’s just the beginning of the end for you. Flame has always belonged to me, and dying didn’t change the way I feel.”

Von appeared completely unfazed. “Unless you know the way to hell and how to help her rescue that horse, I suggest you run on back home now while I’m still in a generous mood.”